Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Chapter 479: million per year, : split (Subscribe please!!)
"It makes sense! It makes sense!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly. He and Ouyang Lun had known each other for more than a day or two. When Ouyang Lun mentioned charging a fee, he knew that there was an idea to make money.

"Publishing the information about the merchants' goods in newspapers, increasing their sales, and charging a certain fee, this method is simply...amazing..." Crown Prince Zhu Biao said excitedly.

"The previous investment was indeed huge, but now there are hundreds of newspapers in Ming Dynasty. Thanks to the previous investment, more and more people read newspapers in Ming Dynasty. This is not only sales, but also the basis for making money!" Ouyang Lun continued: "Publishing goods information for merchants in newspapers to advertise widely. I gave this a name, called advertising. In this way, in addition to the income from selling newspapers, newspapers will also have a considerable amount of advertising income!"

"Of course, the prices for advertising in different newspapers are different. For example, the People's Daily of the Ming Dynasty is the largest newspaper in the Ming Dynasty and has the best sales. As long as you can place an advertisement in the People's Daily, you will immediately gain national fame and become an instant hit!"

"This kind of advertisement is naturally more expensive. If it is a front-page advertisement in the Ming Dynasty People's Daily, it cannot be bought with money alone. It has to be auctioned, and those who are not qualified cannot participate!"

After he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang and his son Zhu Biao couldn't help but applaud.

"Wonderful, so wonderful!"

"Brother-in-law Ouyang, if this advertisement is published, there is no need to worry about the newspaper losing money!"

"That's right. The newspaper business has started to make a profit. The profit income is at least tens of millions!" Ouyang Lun nodded and continued, "Of course, not all newspapers can reach tens of millions. The average provincial newspaper is estimated to be only millions, and the county newspaper income is even lower, only hundreds of thousands. But hundreds of newspapers combined can even exceed 100 million!"

hiss--

Upon hearing Ouyang Lun's words, Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao and Wang Zhong all took a breath of cold air.

Revenue exceeding 100 million?!
Wow, this is almost as much as the Ming Dynasty’s tax revenue in the past year. You know, it was only the year before last that the Ming Dynasty’s overall tax revenue exceeded 100 million!

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but do the math, "With an annual income of 100 million, if we split the money 20% to 80%, then we can get 20 million. That means we can get back the money we spent in just one year?!"

"Your Majesty, this is revenue income and we still have to deduct operating costs!" Ouyang Lun said unhappily.

"Even after deducting the costs, it's still a lot! The operating cost for three months is four million, so the operating cost for a year is 16 million. There is still 84 million in revenue, so we can still get 16.8 million, which is more than enough to pay back in a year!"

Zhu Yuanzhang clapped excitedly again, "Great! Great!"

"So much money?" Crown Prince Zhu Biao frowned, "Father, Brother-in-law Ouyang, is it really good to make so much money? How can the court compete with the people for profits?"

As Zhu Biao said this, Zhu Yuanzhang calmed down and turned to look at Ouyang Lun. "The prince's worry is not without reason. Too much money will breed corruption. Why make so much money?"

"I was almost led astray by you!"

"Also, this newspaper is a divine tool for the imperial court to control public opinion, but it is used to advertise for those businessmen. What if those businessmen have bad intentions?"

Hearing that Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, father and son, were starting to worry again, Ouyang Lun felt a little helpless.

However, Ouyang Lun had expected such a reaction from the Zhu father and son. After all, newspapers were relatively unfamiliar to them, and now they mentioned advertisements, which were closely related to businessmen. As people in power, they would naturally have some concerns.

At present, the Ming Dynasty is still an agricultural society, with relatively outdated views and insufficient understanding of industry and commerce.

If there is just a lack of understanding of industry, then there will be complete hostility and vigilance towards business.

Businessmen give people the impression of being cunning and treacherous, and they will use any means to make money. Money is the root of all evil, and this is not empty talk.

This is also the reason why merchants, although rich, have a low status. The situation became much better when Ouyang Lun took charge of the Ministry of Revenue and continued to establish state-owned enterprises. However, even Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao still maintained their old impression of merchants.

"Your Majesty, if you want to create the prosperous Hongwu era, do you have to make more money?" Ouyang Lun did not answer directly, but asked instead.

"Of course we have to earn money, but this is definitely not everything. It is more important for the people to have enough food to eat, have surplus food at home, and live and work in peace and contentment!" Zhu Yuanzhang said solemnly.

"Your Majesty, if you don't have money and financial foundation, how can you guarantee what you said? Just by talking?" Ouyang Lun continued to ask.

"Uh, what do you mean, Ouyang Lun? Are you deliberately trying to argue with me?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked unhappily, "I see you interact with those businessmen every day. You must have received benefits from them, and now you are speaking for them!"

"Humph! It is unreasonable for merchants to earn a lot of money without working. If we continue to encourage their arrogance, I am afraid that the Ming Dynasty will be dominated by those unscrupulous merchants in the future!"

"Then, Your Majesty, are you willing to give up hundreds of millions of operating income a year?" Ouyang Lun asked again.

“Uh…” Upon hearing this question, Zhu Yuanzhang showed a hesitant look on his face.

He had just made up his mind. If he gave up this advertisement, it would mean that he, Zhu Yuanzhang, would lose nearly 20 million yuan in annual income, and he would not be able to get back the money he had invested in the newspaper before.

"Your Majesty, the economy is not to be feared. What is to be feared are those crooked businessmen. The economy is the lifeblood of a country. Without sufficient economic support, how can we build the strongest army? How can we let the people live and work in peace and contentment, and have enough money for every family?"

"As for what the prince's brother-in-law asked just now about making so much money? It's very simple. Take from the people and use it for the people. With money, we can build more public facilities, build roads, build bridges, etc. These large-scale projects all require money! In the past, a lot of the money for building roads and bridges was borrowed from major silver cabinets, or issued bonds, but these are essentially borrowed money. Since it is borrowed money, it must be repaid. Once the money cannot be repaid, it means that the court's credibility is bankrupt, the silver cabinets withdraw loans, the bonds become worthless, and the stock market collapses. The efforts of the Ming Dynasty in the past 20 years will come to nothing!"

Ouyang Lun said slowly.

"Is it so serious!?" Zhu Yuanzhang and his son Zhu Biao were both shocked when they heard this.

"Is it the same thing that happened in the four southern provinces?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a deep voice.

"It's basically the same, but it will be more serious. By that time, the entire Ming Dynasty will collapse." Ouyang Lun nodded, "If the Ming Dynasty has enough blood-making ability, that is, the ability to make money, the situation will be different." "The entire Ming Dynasty will collapse?!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flickered and his face was filled with surprise and doubt.

He had already begun to imagine the scene of the crisis in the four southern provinces. In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang did not take the crisis in the four southern provinces too seriously at the beginning. In his opinion, as long as it was not a natural disaster or rebellion, it was not a big deal. If the construction site project was suspended, it would be suspended. If the stock market crashed, it would crash. Would it cause death? Would it threaten the ruling status of the Ming Dynasty?
But later the situation became more and more serious, which made Zhu Yuanzhang realize that economic collapse would really cause deaths and would really affect the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

If construction projects are suspended, workers will not receive wages, and without money they will not be able to purchase the necessities of life. Without anyone buying goods, merchants will not be able to make money, and agriculture and industry will be affected. All of this will be reflected in the stock market. The stock market will collapse, completely crushing the people and merchants. Society will begin to become turbulent, and the people will be unable to survive and will begin to rebel.
The reason for the crisis is that the four southern provinces blindly pursued expansion but did not have enough money to support construction projects and stocks. The solution to this crisis is to rely on a large influx of funds.

If the four southern provinces are in crisis, the Ming court can still help. But if the entire Ming is in crisis, who will come to save it? !

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang fully realized the horror of economic collapse. He absolutely could not let the Ming Dynasty's economy collapse, so he had to make a lot of money!
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were still flickering, but his expression was less suspicious and more determined. "Ouyang Lun, I want to know all the ways to make money with newspapers!!"

If Zhu Yuanzhang had some resistance to making money from newspapers just now, this resistance has now disappeared. Nothing is more important than maintaining the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

The importance of newspapers is already clear, so now we need to maximize the role of newspapers! Absolutely no waste!

It is obvious that under Ouyang Lun's deception... oh no... it was his sincere persuasion, Zhu Yuanzhang had gone from one extreme to another.

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes slightly red and filled with urgency, Ouyang Lun instantly understood that what he had just said had taken effect.

"Cough cough!"

"Your Majesty, how to run a newspaper and maximize its effectiveness is a science."

"If you want me to tell you everything, you have to pay more!"

Ouyang Lun coughed twice and spoke slowly.

Forehead.
Upon hearing Ouyang Lun's words, the faces of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, father and son, changed.

"Money, money, damn it, you only know how to add money!"

Zhu Yuanzhang started to curse directly. He had heard this from Ouyang Lun more than once.

"Brother-in-law Ouyang, this is a matter concerning the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty. Talking about money will hurt feelings. We are all family. Can't we talk about the money issue after this problem is resolved?" Zhu Biao persuaded.

After hearing what the Zhu father and son said, Ouyang Lun rolled his eyes.

"Your Majesty, the reason you ask me these questions is not just for the sake of money. If it weren't for the money, you wouldn't have to ask. Anyway, the newspaper industry in Ming Dynasty has entered a stable development stage, and the income and expenditure are roughly balanced. Although it is not profitable, it doesn't have to continue to lose money."

"Brother Prince, talking about money does hurt feelings, but talking about feelings hurts money!" Ouyang Lun continued, "Although I don't care much about money, I can't lose money. I'm sorry, I can't sacrifice myself for the benefit of others."

"Asshole! Prohibition is a perverted doctrine!" Zhu Yuanzhang was furious, but after a moment, he calmed down, "Haven't we already discussed it before? Regarding the newspaper, whether it is investment or dividends, we will split it 20-80. We have agreed. Are you going to regret it again!?"

"Ouyang Lun, I advise you not to go too far!"

"Your Majesty, you are wrongly accusing me. We do share the profits 20:80, but that only counts the revenue from newspaper sales and advertising, not other revenues. If Your Majesty wants me to disclose all my revenues, the 20:80 split is definitely not acceptable."

Ouyang Lun shook his head.

"In addition to newspaper sales revenue and advertising revenue, there are other incomes. Ouyang Lun, you really have a backup plan!" Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily.

"It's also possible to have no other income." Ouyang Lun said seriously.

"I￥……&*" Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Ouyang Lun and couldn't even utter a complete sentence.

Zhu Biao was also helpless when he saw this. Now even a fool could see that Ouyang Lun could play with newspapers in many ways. It was like meeting a knight who had only shown two moves and shocked everyone. Now everyone wanted to see other moves, but the knight wanted to pay more money. If they didn't pay, he would only have two moves to continue playing. Do you want to increase the amount?

Of course it has to be added!
"Okay, just tell me your request!" Zhu Yuanzhang agreed, pinching his nose.

"Your Majesty is straightforward. I think the split ratio should still be 20:80. However, Your Majesty cannot interfere with the operation of the newspaper unless the newspaper causes harm to Ming Dynasty. Only in this way can I be sure to run the newspaper better." Ouyang Lun continued: "I am not trying to control the newspaper. Once the newspaper is fully operational, I will not interfere in anything and just sit back and collect the money. I am just worried that Your Majesty, you, an amateur, will lead the experts and mess things up."

"You mean you dislike me for not understanding operations?" Zhu Yuanzhang said unhappily.

"Your Majesty can manage the world, so of course you understand operations, but you don't understand newspapers, otherwise you wouldn't have called your son-in-law to ask questions." Ouyang Lun smiled.

"Okay, I promise you. The newspaper will be fully under your control for the time being, but the Crown Prince and the Ministry of Rites must also be involved." Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice.

"Of course. Even if Your Majesty didn't tell you, I would still come to you for the person." Ouyang Lun said with a smile. Just kidding, how could he not want the Crown Prince Zhu Biao, a living signboard and a tool? Let the Crown Prince Zhu Biao take the front stage and the Ministry of Rites do the specific things, and he just happens to be slacking off!

"Now can you tell me what other income this newspaper has besides its sales revenue and advertising revenue?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Ouyang Lun expectantly. You know, the income from newspaper sales turned the newspaper from loss to break-even, while the advertising income brought the newspaper hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue. Now he was extremely looking forward to other income.

If it could generate more income, this newspaper would not only be a magical tool for controlling public opinion, but also a "phoenix" that lays golden eggs!
Ouyang Lun nodded, and then said: "Your Majesty, why don't we change our thinking and regard the newspaper as a platform!"

(End of this chapter)